CALL Newsletter - June 17, 2008

In This Issue:

• 12 First CALL Graduates at Northwestern
• Southeastern To Offer Undergraduate Degree in Nursing Online
• BPCC Scholarships & Graduate Profile

12 First CALL Graduates

NATCHITOCHES – Fourteen participants in the Continuum for All Louisiana Learners (CALL) Initiative at Northwestern State University accomplished long-term personal goals by receiving a college degree at NSU’s Spring Commencement Exercises.

CALL is a joint initiative of the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Southern Regional Education Board. Partners for the pilot program included Northwestern, Bossier Parish Community College and the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology of North Louisiana. The program is designed for adults who started but did not complete a college degree. CALL helps working adults take online courses in an accelerated or “fast track” model at their own convenience and even provides college credit for prior education, work and life experiences.

Natchitoches Parish Police Jury Parish Administrator Catherine Hamilton was among those who completed her degree through CALL. Hamilton saw an advertisement for CALL in a newspaper and decided to finish a degree after being out of college for 28 years.

I had always encouraged my children to go to college and complete their degree, then one of them reminded me I didn’t finish. I decided to practice what I preached,” said Hamilton, who is from Natchitoches.

The program is set up to accommodate the schedules of working adults who cannot take college classes on a traditional schedule.

With my job schedule, there’s no way I could have gotten off work to come to campus and finish my degree,” said Perry Lowe of Robeline, an employee at RoyOMartin Company. “I encourage people to take a look at the program and go back.”

Hamilton had to leave school when she was expecting her first child. After being out of school for so long, she was a little worried about starting again.

It took me a little while to get used to taking online classes, but once I got used to them, I was able to get my work done,” said Hamilton. “Everyone involved with the program was very helpful and I didn’t have any problems.”

Lowe had been out of college for four years doing contract work overseas including doing jobs in Afghanistan.

I only needed two semesters to finish and while I was overseas I decided to finish,” he said. “My dad heard about this program and told me about it. I looked into it and it was wonderful. Having a college degree will give me options.”

The CALL Initiative is being expanded to four additional institutions this fall. Students can earn a Bachelor of General Studies at Northwestern, an Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration, an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems or an Associate of Science in General Studies with a concentration in Business Administration at Bossier Parish Community College.

Also available this fall through CALL are an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice at Louisiana State University at Eunice, a Bachelor of Science at McNeese State University, a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Southeastern Louisiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies with Healthcare Management/Marketing Option at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

For more information on CALL, go to http://www.yourcallla.org.

Southeastern To Offer Undergraduate Degree in Nursing Online

HAMMOND – Registered nurses who are graduates of associate degree or diploma programs can now earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University completely online through a new program starting in the fall.

The program is being offered through a new statewide adult learning initiative known as CALL (“Continuum for All Louisiana Learners”), a Louisiana Board of Regents project piloted last year in the northwest region of the state. The initiative offers a variety of undergraduate degrees through six Louisiana higher education institutions and is aimed largely for adult learners who have some college credit but have never earned a degree.

“This program makes it possible for registered nurses without a bachelor’s degree to enroll and earn the undergraduate degree online and at an accelerated pace,” said John Crain, Southeastern provost and vice president for academic affairs. “For many nurses, this is an important step in their career advancement.”

To be eligible, applicants must have graduated from a nationally accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program, hold an unencumbered nursing license and be in good standing with their licensure board, and have completed at least one year of current nursing practice as determined by the Southeastern School of Nursing. More information on eligibility and how to apply for the program is available at the university’s Web site, www.selu.edu/call.

Courses generally will be offered in four to eight-week formats. The accelerated pace allows students the opportunity to complete the program in as early as three semesters, depending upon prior course work and experience. And while the program is intended primarily for Louisiana residents, out-of-state applicants will also be considered.

Nursing CALL Program Coordinator Jean Urick said the School of Nursing will work with applicants to review their completed courses and work experience to determine the courses needed to meet the requirements of the bachelor’s degree.

“As a result of prior educational programs in nursing, registered nurses can earn up to 30 nursing credit hours awarded by transfer credit, transfer block credit, or prior learning assessments,” Urick said.  “In addition, transfer credit is awarded for any equivalent general education courses.”

Crain said an increasing number of adults recognize that continuing education is important to career growth and professional advancement.

“This is an important part of our workforce, and the state has recognized the need to develop programs that will allow adults to complete their degrees and to advance professionally,” he said. “We recognize that these students are already working, in most cases full time, so we designed the courses to be short in duration and to be taken completely online.”

Urick explained that online learning is not for everyone. The Southeastern CALL Web site includes links to information to help individuals determine if online education would be appropriate for them.

Beginning this fall, CALL will offer a total of seven complete degree programs through six Louisiana public colleges and universities. In addition to the nursing program at Southeastern, other programs include two-year associate degrees in business administration, computer information systems and general studies at Bossier Parish Community College, a bachelor of general studies degree at Northwestern State University, associate degree in criminal justice at LSU at Eunice, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at McNeese State University, and a bachelor’s degree in health studies at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. More information on the programs is available at the general CALL Web site, www.yourCALLla.org.

BPCC Scholarships

Thanks to the Bossier Parish Community College Foundation, over $10,000 in scholarship funds will be available to CALL students for the fall 2008 and spring 2009 semesters. Scholarships will be awarded based on the completion of a CALL Scholarship application and the need of the applicant. Current students and applicants can access the CALL Scholarship requirements and an application by visiting the BPCC Foundation website at http://www.bpcc.edu/foundation/callscholarship.html.

BPCC Graduate Profile

A pressed gown and a tasseled cap are all that remain in an otherwise empty house. A personal goal to become a college graduate will become reality on July 31, 2008 for Simone as she prepares to walk across the stage as one of 10 summer graduates from Bossier Parish Community College’s CALL program and begin her move overseas all in the same day. The road to her degree in Business Administration may seem nontraditional, but it is a quite common story for adults who apply to the CALL program. Simone attended three schools over the course of 8 years before she heard about the CALL program and decided to take a chance on this new initiative. Her gamble paid off and Simone excelled in her coursework and was the recipient of a BPCC Foundation CALL Scholarship. While graduation tends to mark the end of a journey, for Simone it marks the beginning of many new adventures. A bold move with her family to a foreign country may be easier because Simone is completing her degree with the prospect of new job opportunities and perhaps the possibility of continuing her education. All Simone had to do was answer the CALL! Learn more about Simone and other students and programs at www.bpcc.edu/callstudents/.